A New Navy

My most recent critique of our super carriers was well timed. The Naval Institute Proceedings that I just got in the mail today has an article that addresses the concerns I have related to the rise of network-centric warfare and also proposes a new fleet structure. The basic problem is that while our super (and super expensive) carrier is great for power projection ashore, it is increasingly too vulnerable to carry out the sea control mission against an enemy capable of fighting our fleet.

Right off the bat, I'd like to correct a caption error in the picture of the new America class large amphibious warfare ships in the article. The authors do not propose 60 of these ships as the caption states, but 60 of a new 10,000 ton multi-purpose ship that could serve as small amphibs replacing current Landing Ship Docks (LSDs), and be capable of carrying unmanned aerial, surface, and submersible vehicles to carry out missions envisioned for the new Littoral Combat Ship that the new small multi-purpose ship would carry out (which means the LCS production run would be truncated).

Basically, the author thinks the America class can be used as an amphib or a light carrier (which I've mentioned) and that the dwindling number of super carriers can be held back to surge in a crisis (they'll be available in smaller numbers for the next 50 years even after the first Ford class super carrier is the last one built). The new small 10k ships would spread future UCAVs over a wider fleet.

The latter is important as long as we believe naval aviation is important. While relying on the America class as our primary forward deployed aircraft carrier, it is still pretty heavy and may be too large for sea control missions. We might want to go down to 20,000 ton range and even supplement this with aviation auxiliary cruisers functioning as cheap escort carriers.

The carrier had a good run as the mainstay of our fleet. We would tarnish their record by ending their run in flaming defeat long after their era has passed. As I wrote in that post yesterday, large carriers are doomed given the trends. I'd hate to be the last navy relying on big deck carriers.